China Conducts Military Drills in South China Sea Following U.S.-Philippines Exercises
– China’s military has conducted naval and air patrols around the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a move that underscores rising tensions in the disputed waters. The drills took place , just days after joint military exercises were held by the United States and the Philippines in the same region.
The patrols were carried out by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command, according to a statement released . The command stated the exercises were intended to “counter infringement and provocative actions by individual countries,” a clear reference to the U.S. And the Philippines, both of whom contest China’s claims to the area.
The Scarborough Shoal, known as Huangyan Island by China and Panatag Shoal by the Philippines, is a chain of reefs within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ). However, China has asserted *de facto* control over the shoal and maintains a significant coast guard presence there, particularly since the beginning of .
Details released by the PLA revealed the operation involved multiple aircraft, including H-6K bombers equipped with anti-ship missiles, alongside Type 054A guided-missile frigates – the Hengshui and Dali – and coast guard vessels. State media reported the patrols were aimed at “resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty and security” and upholding regional peace and stability.
These latest drills follow a period of increased military activity in the South China Sea. In , the PLA conducted sea and air combat readiness drills as the Philippines and the U.S. Held joint exercises in the disputed waters. Those exercises occurred shortly after a bilateral consultation meeting between China and the Philippines aimed at lowering tensions in the region.
The Philippine Navy conducted a “sovereignty patrol” with live-fire exercises near Scarborough Shoal on , followed by joint maritime activities with the U.S. Navy on and . The Philippine frigate BRP Antonio Luna, along with patrol vessels BRP Ramon Alcaraz and BRP Andres Bonifacio, participated in the patrol, which Manila said was intended to “sustain and improve the operational proficiency of both assets and personnel.”
The U.S. 7th Fleet stated the joint exercise with the Philippines was “designed to emphasize our longstanding partnership between the two militaries in the maritime domain.” The guided-missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna also took part in the two-day exercise.
The South China Sea remains a focal point of geopolitical tension, with multiple countries laying claim to islands, reefs, and surrounding waters. China’s expansive claims, based on historical grounds, are contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The United States, while not a claimant itself, maintains a strong military presence in the region and supports the rights of other nations to freedom of navigation.
The Chinese Southern Theater Command stated that “any military activity that stirs up trouble in the South China Sea is within our control.”
